1960 August

Preliminary Session - first pilot of the National Youth Orchestra

Taken from the 1960 program:

"The Stratford Symphony Work Shop last summer was used in part as a preliminary session to launch the National Youth Orchestra Association of Canada. This achieved such an outstanding artistic success that the formation of a National Youth Orchestra was warranted."

The members of this preliminary orchestra formed the first prototype orchestra for what would later be known as the National Youth Orchestra Canada.

As stated in the first media release in 1960, the aim of the newly formed National Youth Orchestra association was "to teach young musicians to play in a symphony orchestra under professional conditions; thus assuring a constant supply of first class musicians to improve the standard of our symphony orchestras."

NYO Canada is Canada's advanced orchestral training institute for musicians ages 16 to 28. Approximately one in three musicians performing in Canada's professional symphony orchestras are alumni of the NYO Canada. Read more about us here +